The operation of lifeleasehold in south-west Lancashire, 1649-97

South-west Lancashire emerged from the civil war in need of social and economic recovery. The region was a Catholic stronghold and landlords and tenants alike had experienced the humiliation of military and political defeat and borne the financial cost of sequestration. Landlords were faced with the challenge of maintaining social stability and promoting economic growth and recovery. At the same time, many tenants were undercapitalized, markets were underdeveloped and agricultural production was hampered by the inadequacies of the drainage system. This article explores the extent to which the social and economic contract framed by the lifeleasehold system helped promote social stability and economic recovery. It is argued that although the lifeleasehold system provided security of tenure and economic recovery is evident, this was only possible through the incursion of outside money. This undermined the idealist preferences of landlords who sought to promote a strong bond between tenant nuclear families and the land.